MUNCIE, Ind. (9/9/22) – On Friday at Worthen Arena, the Arkansas State volleyball team dropped a pair of three-set decisions to open the Ball State Tournament.
A-State (5-3) first lost in three to the host Cardinals before falling to Green Bay in the second half of Friday's double-header.
MATCH 1 | BALL STATE 3 – ARKANSAS STATE 0
In Friday's first match, Kyla Wiersema (11) and Macey Putt (10) led Arkansas State with double-digit kills, but Ball State relied upon a strong offense that hit .478 to take a three-set victory over the Red Wolves.
Lauren Musante handed out 29 assists while Sarah Martinez corralled a team-high nine digs.
SET 1 – BALL STATE 25, A-STATE 18
Arkansas State took the opening point on a thunderous kill by Wiersema before the hosts surged ahead with a 4-0 run. A-State trimmed the deficit to 8-7 on a kill by Elise Wilcox off the block, then the Cardinals stretched their lead back out to three. A block by Ilayda Dincer and Wiersema made it 12-10 before Ball State took eight of the next 13 points to lead 20-15.
An ace by Makayla Villarreal cut it to 20-17, but the Cardinals claimed five of the final six points in the frame to take the opening set.
SET 2 – BALL STATE 25, A-STATE 12
A Martinez ace gave the Red Wolves a 1-0 lead in the second, but the Cardinals surged ahead 6-1 to force an early timeout. Ball State's lead expanded to as much as 14-4 before a second A-State timeout. The Cardinals went on to take a 25-12 set victory and lead 2-0 in the match.
SET 3 – BALL STATE 25, A-STATE 22
The Red Wolves did not go away quietly in the third set, keeping it close throughout with hopes of extending the match. A-State hit .345 in the frame with just three attack errors
A-State led early on kills by Dincer, Musante and Wiersema before the Cardinals pulled ahead 6-4. Ball State led by as much as four at 11-7, but a solo block by Putt knotted up the set at 12-all. The Red Wolves reclaimed the lead at 17-16 on an attack error.
After Ball State retook the lead at 20-19, a block by Musante and Yazmyn Billings put the score at 21-all. A service error by the Cardinals made it 22-22, but Ball State closed with the final three points to clinch the match.
MATCH 2 | GREEN BAY 3 – A-STATE 0
In the second half of the twin bill, Musante led Arkansas State with her third double-double of the season, but the Red Wolves dropped a three-set decision to Green Bay. The setter handed out 23 assists with 14 digs, while Macey Putt led with 13 kills.
Martinez collected 12 digs, while Clara Parker notched a career-best 10.
SET 1 – GREEN BAY 25, A-STATE 21
Green Bay led from the start in the opening frame, leading by as much as six at 10-4. The Red Wolves surged back with four straight to make it 10-8, then made it 11-10 on a Phoenix attack error.
After A-State knotted it at 12 on another attack error, Green Bay moved back ahead 15-12 on an ace. A pair of Dincer kills kept it close before the Phoenix took five of the next six points to lead 21-15 and force a timeout. A-State rallied to trim the margin to 21-18, then a kill by Wilcox and Green Bay attack error made it 23-21. The Phoenix went on to take the next two points to clinch the set and lead 1-0 in the match.
SET 2 – GREEN BAY 25, A-STATE 15
Arkansas State seized early advantage after a Wilcox ace made it 3-1. Green Bay reclaimed the lead at 7-3 with a 6-0 run broken by a Dincer kill. A Putt kill later made it a one-point affair at 9-8 before a kill by Wilcox gave A-State the 12-11 lead. The Phoenix then took 11 of the next 13 points to put their lead at 23-14. The Red Wolves responded with a kill by Wiersema before back-to-back kills ended the set and gave Green Bay a 2-0 lead in the contest
SET 3 – GREEN BAY 25, A-STATE 18
The Phoenix retained momentum early in the third set, taking a 5-0 lead before a Putt kill ended the run. After Green Bay expanded its lead back out to 11-5, a 5-0 A-State run knotted it up at 11-all.
After a block by Kyla and Maddie Wiersema that tied the set at 14 apiece, Green Bay went on a 5-0 run to lead 19-14. A-State cut the deficit back down to two on a kill by Bailey Helzer before the Phoenix closed the set with the final five points to win the match.
NEXT UP
Arkansas State concludes the Ball State Tournament Saturday morning, facing Alabama at 11 a.m. CT. A live stream is available at BallStateSports.com.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can follow the team on Twitter (@AStateVB) and Instagram (astatevb) along with liking the Arkansas State Red Wolves Volleyball page on Facebook for the latest news and updates regarding the team.
